by Grahaml » Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:20 am
Felt the game was a game of two halves. First half the dogs seemed to be clinging on for dear life. Not enough pressure, skills terrible and some very loose play in the midfield and in defense. Second half saw the dogs get on top in the middle. Pressure picked up, ball use picked up and everything seemed to start clicking. A bit wasteful, but both sides were guilty of that. Hopefully we'll improve on that and try to emulate the second half for a full game in a fortnight. IMHO the flag is ours for the taking if we do so. If not, then we open the door for whoever we play to get up.
Griffin did some great work in the middle. Might have got a similar number of hitouts as O'Hara, but got the ball to advantage continually. Gave O'Hara a bath in the third quarter IMHO. Symes worked hard all game and became more and more damaging. Was one of the few midfielders who seemed to be able to control the ball in the midfield for a while. Slatteryand Cochrane were good all game, and seemed to be working dual roles stopping opponents and giving some much needed drive. Ware probably didn't get much ball, but was a key in keeping the ball in attack several times in the first half. Callinan was important all day with his run, but his bread and butter deserted him today! 5 shots for goal was 4 or 5 goals most of the season! Thomas and Lawry worked hard but Lawry especially had a few lapses he'd be very eager to atone for. Surprisingly our backline was very uneasy for large patches of the first half. Loose checking, miscommunications, dropped marks, poor kicking and a lack of run seemed to be the residue of 2 weekends being spectators. My expectation is all our big guys (McKenzie, Schell, Grima, Sibenaler, Lawry, Havelberg and Hayes) to all be cleaner and more effective in a fortnight. Especially since 4 of them haven't played an SANFL final (to my knowledge). Alan Obst I thought was very good with his strength. Kicked a goal from a strong mark and won a free with a good tackle. Gowans were their usual selves. Clean when given space, deadly inside 50 and at the bottom of the packs with their hands on the ball. They will be hard to replace as nobody else in the league consistently gets first use of the ball in a contest as these boys, and their use of it is impeccable. Dutchske and O'Sullivan are good too, so hopefully will step up.
I must mention the shepherd from the umpire though. I was absolutely filthy we were robbed of the chance to spoil that mark (which was juggled anyway) because our bloke was blocked by the umpire. Gill must have thought it was Christmas because he could lead straight at the ball and the pass could be punched low giving his opponent no chance. Would have levelled the score at a vital time. I'm not saying it's anyone's fault but it would have been a rotten way to lose momentum and my tone right now would be a touch different had it changed the result!
However, someone will make way for Westhoff, and Obst appears the man. Grima isn't in great form but can play both ends, has been good most of the year (especially early on) and has played every game as far as I know. Would be hard to drop, and I would have thought it was a choice of the two.
For North, it seemed to me that apart from the poor kicking this was North at their best. Given less latitude surely they would be less potent again even. Were simply superb at getting the ball from the middle to the 50 and this was the greatest asset they had. Jarman needs to refine the plan to end the chain 10m closer to goal. Alleway and Gill kicking from 35 instead of 45 would make a huge difference. Biggest achilles heel was defense as I thought it would be. Defenders looked too small for Lawry who should have really hurt North today. Kicked 3 points and dropped 3 chest marks at least. Havelberg looked to toey for Hart when he had space to lead into. Who have they got to combat a 199cm AFL revelation with his tail up? And if the talls were under enough pressure, the smalls didn't help much. Under seige the run was all too rare. Coulter could be anything, but today he was nothing. Hart needs to kick sideways less, but use himself, Coulter and Ivens' run to link with the midfield. The big blokes have to learn how to free those guys up.
Glad Perrie decided to let Wundke play now.